This is a grade 12 biology project which gives an analysis of the major aspects of the structural protein collagen.

Collagen Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins. In nature, it is found exclusively in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective . . . → Read More: Collagen- A Summary]]>

This is a grade 12 biology project which gives an analysis of the major aspects of the structural protein collagen.

Collagen
Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins. In nature, it is found exclusively in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content. Collagen, in the form of elongated fibrils, is mostly found in fibrous tissues such as tendon, ligament and skin, and is also abundant in cornea, cartilage, bone, blood vessels, the gut, and intervertebral disc.

In muscle tissue it serves as a major component of endomysium. Collagen constitutes 1% to 2% of muscle tissue, and accounts for 6% of the weight of strong, tendinous muscles. Gelatin, which is used in food and industry, is collagen that has been irreversibly hydrolyzed.

Types and associated disorders
Collagen occurs in many places throughout the body. So far, only 29 types of collagen have been identified and described. Over 90% of the collagen in the body, however, is of type I, II, III, and IV.
* Collagen One: skin, tendon, vascular, ligature, organs, bone (main component of bone)
* Collagen Two: cartilage (main component of cartilage)
* Collagen Three: reticulate (main component of reticular fibers), commonly found alongside type I.
* Collagen Four: forms bases of cell basement membrane
* Collagen Five: cells surfaces, hair and placenta

Collagen-related diseases most commonly arise from genetic defects or nutritional deficiencies that affect the biosynthesis, assembly, postranslational modification, secretion, or other processes involved in normal collagen production.

Source: Wiki